Sugar, spice and nothing nice

IS IT TIME TO CRACK DOWN ON JUNK FOOD ADVERTISING?

- CHRISTINA MONIZ

DOES INDIA NEED the UK-like clampdown on junk food advertising?

This month, the UK government introduced laws to completely ban advertising of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) on digital and social media, as well as on linear television before 9 pm. The ban applies to 13 product categories, including pizza, sugary drinks, chocolates and even some cereals, in an effort to tackle childhood obesity.

Industry estimates indicate that food and beverage advertising in India reached around %10,000 crore in CY24, about onethird of the country’s FMCG ad spends. Major advertisers are Mondelez (ad spends of $1,521 crore in FY25, Coca-Cola (€1,311 crore in FY25) and PepsiCo India (ad spends of 772 crore in CY24).